MX & MEPIS Community ForumMEPIS Community Forum is a support forum for the MX and MEPIS Linux distros.2015-02-15T13:12:42-04:00http://forum.mepiscommunity.org/feed.php?f=802015-02-15T13:12:42-04:002015-02-15T13:12:42-04:00http://forum.mepiscommunity.org/viewtopic.php?t=37711&p=356963#p356963

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After accessing the devices via the internet, Auriemma was able to control them: turning the TVs off and on, and secretly accessing data they held about a user’s viewing habits.

Had he been a criminal, he could also have obtained details of the credit cards that users had uploaded to access pay-per-view TV, download films or use shopping apps.Other experts recently made the chilling discovery that it is possible to remotely access the video cameras built into the front of thousands of smart televisions, and spy on the users in their own home.

One such expert is Kurt Stammberger, who works for the IT security firm Mocana. He says the company was recently asked by a television manufacturer to do ‘penetration tests’ on its devices. ‘We weren’t just able to find out what someone was watching, and had watched,’ he says. ‘We could also install “spyware” that could, if they had a video camera, allow us to see through that camera — without even activating the little light that indicates it’s on.

‘It was a fairly straightforward thing to do. People who work in IT often place tape over their computer’s camera lens [in a laptop they are usually set into the inside of the lid] unless they want to actually use it, because it’s so common to hack them. We should all do the same with smart TVs.’

Such an attack, which Stammberger describes as ‘frighteningly easy’ to mount, could provide voyeuristic hackers with a chance to snoop on unsuspecting home-owners in their living rooms or bedrooms.

My only concern, is the smart TV talking to my ladies smart phone? If I purchase a smart TV, (difficult to avoid if you want a quality unit) and not connect it to cable or internet, does it have the ability to transmit via bluetooth to a visitors smartphone? Or my neighbors wireless signal across the street, or next door?

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What are the security risks of Bluetooth and what technologies and best practices should be used to protect my device? What can an attacker do once a malicious device is paired with mine? This is one example: Super Bluetooth Hacker

I am guessing, if the smart TVs are still hackable, any bluetooth, wired or wireless connection can control, access and use any tool that your Smart TV might have without your knowledge, or security control you believe you might have with the remote.

Quoting Yahoo: "However, despite these earlier complaints it seems the same Yahoo scheme might also be to blame for the new intrusions, with Reddit users advising one another to uncheck the web company’s privacy notice to disable the ads. At the time of writing, Samsung hadn’t responded to our request for comment, but the company’s Australian division told CNET that ads seen by the country’s users were the “result of an error that occurred as part of a recent software update that was not intended for the Australian market”https://www.yahoo.com/tech/samsungs-sma ... 79354.html

]]>2015-02-15T09:00:04-04:002015-02-15T09:00:04-04:00http://forum.mepiscommunity.org/viewtopic.php?t=37711&p=356953#p356953I think we as individuals need to take responsibility for our actions. Firstly, if it is bothersome to anyone do not buy a smart TV. Secondly do not use the feature, and thirdly, do do not say anything you do not what transmitted.

I am not troubled by this in the least and use the feature all the time.

Should consumers enable the voice recognition capability, the voice data consists of TV commands, or search sentences, only. Users can easily recognize if the voice recognition feature is activated because a microphone icon appears on the screen."

As for the third parties mentioned in the privacy policy, Samsung explained it to me like this: "Samsung does not retain voice data or sell it to third parties. If a consumer consents and uses the voice recognition feature, voice data is provided to a third party during a requested voice command search. At that time, the voice data is sent to a server, which searches for the requested content then returns the desired content to the TV."

That seems a pretty goobledegook statement altogether. So we must trust that it is only active if the icon is visible and is it a case of by using the feature you are giving consent?

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Unless you specifically hit the mic button the Samsung does not "hear" anything.

If you have to press a button each time to activate the feature it seems to slightly self-defeating

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presumably you are not going to give away the location of the million dollars or pounds you have stashed away.

It can "hear" everything that is said. It is not filtered and interpreted locally but sent to a remote server (see statement above) - and our connection is traceable.

Similarly we should also accept on face value the reassurances of various security agences concerning the interception of all our communications?

Thinking about it, our smartphones tend to be on all the time and also support voice input and search - "Ok Google....." !

]]>2015-02-15T07:56:38-04:002015-02-15T07:56:38-04:00http://forum.mepiscommunity.org/viewtopic.php?t=37711&p=356951#p356951Unless you specifically hit the mic button the Samsung does not "hear" anything. And if you do, presumably you are not going to give away the location of the million dollars or pounds you have stashed away.

The press stories I have heard, especially on the telly are presented in a skewed fashion to make people believe everything is being recorded. And of course if it is on the news, so it must be true.

Should consumers enable the voice recognition capability, the voice data consists of TV commands, or search sentences, only. Users can easily recognize if the voice recognition feature is activated because a microphone icon appears on the screen."

As for the third parties mentioned in the privacy policy, Samsung explained it to me like this: "Samsung does not retain voice data or sell it to third parties. If a consumer consents and uses the voice recognition feature, voice data is provided to a third party during a requested voice command search. At that time, the voice data is sent to a server, which searches for the requested content then returns the desired content to the TV."

I understand that you can turn off the 'smart' features. I'd never put up with the voice-activated features on a TV. I'm about to go through the process of looking for a new TV. I expect it to be similarly interesting.

As to phones I don't ever want a phone to tell me anything except I've received a text or phone call. And I don't need a mapping program to have access to anything except where I'm at and where I want to go. Period.

Another one here. I tried the voice dialer once.. it dialed everyone in the book BUT the person it needed to dial.. SO useful.

The only reason I HAVE a smartphone is because of the bluetooth function on it that connects to my neck device that connects to my ear doohickeys so I CAN actually make a phone call

I understand that you can turn off the 'smart' features. I'd never put up with the voice-activated features on a TV. I'm about to go through the process of looking for a new TV. I expect it to be similarly interesting.

As to phones I don't ever want a phone to tell me anything except I've received a text or phone call. And I don't need a mapping program to have access to anything except where I'm at and where I want to go. Period.

]]>2015-02-14T20:43:12-04:002015-02-14T20:43:12-04:00http://forum.mepiscommunity.org/viewtopic.php?t=37711&p=356935#p356935I'm about to go through the process of looking for a new TV. I expect it to be similarly interesting.

As to phones I don't ever want a phone to tell me anything except I've received a text or phone call. And I don't need a mapping program to have access to anything except where I'm at and where I want to go. Period.

]]>2015-02-14T15:21:02-04:002015-02-14T15:21:02-04:00http://forum.mepiscommunity.org/viewtopic.php?t=37711&p=356927#p356927So began the research for a suitable replacement. As this progressed one realises so many features that need to be taken into consideration but eventually narrowed it down to a couple - Samsung and LG (although not keen on the latter's silver surround)- at an acceptable price point. They were 1080p but also happened to be (so called) SmartTVs! Both were offered by Currys (a UK chain) who have a number of local stores so visited the mega-store in the hope of immediate success. However, neither were available but homed in on a very nice looking Samsung (which I either not clocked in my online searching or had dismissed for some reason). Unfortunately all the 40" and below were displayed wall-hung so there was no opportunity to inspect such visible features as connectivity and whether the power supply was internal/external or cord hardwired (which is naff).

Now the "fun" began. Is it a universal truth that when one goes into a store only looking at possibilities (window shopping) we are approached by every salesperson on the premises yet when actually wanting to make a purchase they all melt into obscurity? Perhaps it's in the body language and they sense it as not a worthy challenge?

Eventually I managed to intercept a salesman and inquired about the object of my (then) desire. Reassured, decided to proceed. At one of their terminals was asked for personal details - twice for different processes - but at the final hurdle, their system threw up an error. He contacted their technical centre and there best - ie only - advice was to try again. We did, with the same outcomes but with the additional suggestion of trying another terminal. I declined!

In the event, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. I researched the chosen model but, despite assurances to the contrary, it was only 720p and although seduced by its looks the stand would have been unsuitable for the intended site. This latter shortcoming would have been obvious had it not been wall-hung.

The following afternoon, just out of interest. I went to one of their other stores. There were 7 visible salespersons and no other customers yet was approached by none!

So that evening (Wed last week) went surfing again and found several sites offering the Samsung. Picked the most promising, made the purchase and it was delivered on the Friday. Great - except it didn't work! The screen was mostly black with a few blocks and lines of pixels with what can best be described as jaggies resembling cracked glass. Even if there were bad or no inputs, at that stage the setup menu should have appeared.

That evening, contacted the vendor and, after 4 automated switchboard choices was redirected to Samsung and a further 4 choices later was finally talking to a human! Much as I admire someone for whom English is their second language, accents and inflections make it very difficult to exchange technical descriptions, serial numbers (whilst standing on my head!) etc then being given two account numbers - one fo myself and one for the vendor. I'm still not sure what the outcome was but it would seem that Samsung consider any "small" item - eg tvs under 40" - as low priority!

In the meantime a 22" LG tv/monitor, placed on the same site, temporarily fulfilled my addiction.

The following day (Sat) I banged off an email to the vendor who phoned me early on Mon and after lengthy negotiation agreed to replace it. This was duly delivered the following day and am happy to say that is, so far, fine.

My mood was not improved by my combi microwave oven failing too! That, after crytallising the desired features, has involved further hours of research to pin down one at my price-point - especially as, from personal experience, the grill facility fails after about 3 years.

But now we're getting closer to the choice of title.

I was astonished at how light my new LED SmartTv is. It could literally be picked up one handed even in the box (and, no, I didn't drop the first one but remember it has probably been handled 50 times between Korea and me but I - the end user - am the only one who actually cares) . The old TV was a monster in comparison but actually looked "proper" and I preferred the broad frame and under-slung speakers - we must buy an expensive soundbar to emulate that. Though that won't matter if it can be persuaded to connect to my hifi for occasions when a better sound quality is desired (eg Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin concerts!) rather than grovelling round the back to temporarily utilise the headphone socket.

The outgoing TV had a plethora of connectivity including vga, dvi and 2 scart but only one hdmi and no usb yet managed to kludge connections to various STBs. The new one has 3 hdmi (one arc which I believe is output only for soundbar), composite inputs (but crucially no output) plus two usb and consequently will require a different set of kludges.

In its favour, my new tv uses a quarter of the power of the old one but, contrary to expectation, the viewing angles are are more critical (so far - the lcd one improved over the first few months). However, the jury's out on picture quality. The definition is great but the colour balance, brightness and contrast are yet to be pinned down. It varies enormously between scene types and suspect this to be, a yet to be tamed, "smart" feature. Also, after a yet to be determined period, it pops up a demand for a response within 60sec otherwise it will switch itself off. Do so many people now fall asleep in front of their box (programme quality notwithstanding!) thus endangering the planet? Or perhaps its a punishment for not actually looking at the screen 100% of the time?

[During all my this surfing and scribing, one of my cats has discovered the pleasure of lying on the Tosh keyboard. At first she would leap onto the keyboard on route from the sofa arm to my lap. Now she jumps on my lap then to the laptop. Maybe the warmth hits parts that roasting in front of the fire doesn't reach. Either way she finds key presses and combinations that produce effects that I would never have thought of. Perhaps that is confirmation that I'm the dumb one!]

This is a person who has difficulty enough taming a Smartphone and Android tablet not assisted by the *****y thing performing some undesired action every time I pick them up. It seems to be impossible to grasp one without pressing something or even how it is moved being interpreted as a gesture. Yes, I know the lock screen is supposed to protect us from (some of) that but nevertheless too frequently something seems to occur! And is it only me that finds whichever way a smartphone is picked up - either to answer it or bring it out of standby - my grasp will almost always invoke the volume control too? A potentially deadly combination from completely off - unless one intends to get deep down and dirty.

I'm now on my 4th touch-screen phone. The first is compact, with a resistive screen so no swiping to bring it to life or answer and easily usable one-handed (also no inadvertent choices). But I'm a sucker for miniaturized technology so moved on to a Samsung Apollo - power button top (index finger) with volume top of left side where my thumb lands. Next a low-end Sony Xperia - power top of right side for index finger with the next two fingers on the volumes which are a couple of cm below. Now a (cheap but gorgeous) Chinese Doogee Voyager with 5" screen and a joy to use in most respects but power top left side for index finger whilst thumb rests nicely on volume at upper left. And all these for someone with no friends! But mostly my land-line is used for 0800 or 0844/5 numbers which, in the uk, are generally expensive on mobiles whilst friends (ok. I lied a little) are frequently contacted evenings or weekends when they are free on land-line! Indeed yesterday, a friend for whom I obtained a Doogee, called me in a panic (being even more naive than me in such matters) because he had invoked the "dirty" power-on situation, inadvertently made some "choices" - but didn't know how - and it refused to switch off but managed to sort for him!

Whilst it can be sad to observe a group of youngsters in the pub not talking to each other as they gaze at their mobiles and yet marvel as they operate them one-handed with their thumb flying over the keyboard yet apparently not making unwanted presses on buttons or screen!

Although I have installed numerous apps, most are neglected - often because they try to be too clever with constant unwanted notifications. A few games but don't have sufficient interest to persist. A3dTilt is simple occasional fun, controlling a ball round obstacles of increasing difficulty. And Sudoku to while a way a few minutes. However, not keen on having to do them against the clock!

And I hate "wizards" on PCs that usually don't explain what your going to need to know before starting and/or insist that they know better than you what you want to do! Personally I prefer a single form with help available for each field. (Similarly I hate on-line forms or surveys where the whole thing is not available to browse through first since how one question is answered may be different if one knew a related question was coming up later. And those sites that immediately display a pop-up inviting you take part in a survey usually just persuade me to proceed no further.)

Basically I'm just uncomfortable with "smart" technology that pretends to know or predict what I want though am quite happy to be sensibly guided to do what I actually need. At the other end of the scale is the ultra cautious to save us from ourselves - equivalent to "Are you sure you want to deploy the airbag now? Are you really, really sure....". So "smart" often means doing what I don't want whilst refusing to that which I do!

Even my mouse is "smart", switching off when not used for a few minutes, leaving me slightly irratated for a few seconds when not responding but at least it saves the batteries. The car also has numerous nags to remind me of the obvious but the silliest one is the visual reminder (eco feature) to change gear (can't yet afford auto) - yes, we're supposed to take our eyes of the road until 40mph is reached!

There yer go! Just picked up my phone in response to a text notification and launched the camera! The text was to inform me that another text will be sent tomorrow to say when the new microwave will be delivered...

Anyway, back to the TV - although on much of the time, I tend to be a casual user, more likely to be listening (as I create such literary genius as this article) than watching. Don't watch soaps or reality tv and find much modern comedy puerile so often watch channels that show repeats of series from more genteel (rose tinted!) eras in content or production. Almost all significant sport - Cricket, most of F1 and Soccer and now the Golf - has been tamely relinquished by the Beeb to expensive satellite/cable channels. We still have Tennis, Athletics and Six Nations Rugby plus, of course, the adrenalin buzz of Snooker, Bowls and Darts. But at least I've so far found a couple of sites streaming the Cricket and Golf.

The SmartTV's main trick seems to be the apps of which the majority seem to be slanted to paid for movies and social networking, neither being of interest to me. It does include on-demand services, such as iPlayer, for the main terrestrial channels but those are mostly not needed as they are covered by the pvr boxes (when I remember to set the recording) and they also support iPlayer. The nearest I get to social networking are forums such as this! "Full internet browsing" is also offered but am unlikely to do any surfing that way using the remote to laboriously navigate the on-screen keyboard though I may, out of curiosity, try using a wireless keyboard and mouse.

Anyway, this rant has become rather lengthy but provided admin doesn't take the hump and zap this as too controversial or off piste, my frustration and (t)witterings are now out there for the world to share!